Weekly expositor. (Brockway Centre, Mich.) 1882-1894, 1887-08-11

"Your grace has honored me 80
greatly that l am afraid lost my
presen OF mind"
Then the duchess said To herself
that whether the person before her
was lace-inaker or not, sue was lady
"a well-bred gentlewoman. She
recognized her as such.
lyon were very kind TO my maid,'
she said, with q smile. "She could not
keep tue secret; she told me all about it.
twas very careless OF her; but | like
her honesty IN telling me-"
"She seems very devoted TO your
grace" said Mrs. Grey.
''She Is so-Inost devoted and faithful.
am very glad that you were able to
repair the damage done. | thank you
very much indeed. You have repaired
the lace so neatly and skillfully that it
is none the worse for the accident"
IL AN delighted to pleased your
grace" said Mrs. Grey quietly,
my maid tells me you worked very
hard-that you were busily engaged
with it during the day, anu greater
part of the night, "she continued, then
she paused abruptly. she could not
offer this beautiful. sOrrowful woman
money. 1t was quite impossible. A
strange sensation was stealing Oye' her
! that she was in the presence of one
greatly her superior. She had intended
to be very generous, but she could not
offer Mrs. Grey money.
lit was very good OF you to take so
much trouble" she said. II believe
my husband would have been quite dis
tressed If he had known of the acct
dent; he values the lace highly"
ut is almos5 priceless" said Mrs.
Grey. There is not much lace in
England ike that"
"Then," said the duchess, show CRATE
full should be TO YOU"
She looked round the room with its
lavish adorn ment of flowers.
"What pretty little house you have"
she said. Have you lived here long,
Mrs. Grev?'
"I came here In June of this year,
your grace" was the quiet reply. How
little-when she had tossed Sunbeam
in her arms and rolled her on the grass
how little size had Thought the time
would ever come wnen in her presence
she would be deal n life, when she
would address ner as "Your grace"
without a smile in her eyes or OH her
lips,
"Do you like Cavering?" inquired
the duchess.
Then the white face flushed and
glowed.
Il like it better than any other spot
OH earth, she replied hastily. land
love II for your sake" she was tempt
ed to add but was wise enough TO re-
frain.
Il should like TO see some OF your
work, if you woalG kindly show it TO
me-" said the duchess. Il am told that
you make magnificent lace
II think my work is good" was the
quiet reply. II have done nothing
else for seventeen years, and practice.
as your grace knows, makes perfect"
You learned, then, when you were
young" said the duchess.
When was young [ lived in the
country" said Mrs. Grey with fsr-of'
look in her eyes as a vision of inisfal,
rose before her. And making point
lace was one of my ways of passing
me. L never thought then of earning u
livelihood by It,"
"You have been in different circum-
stances, said The duchess pityingly.
YES" said Mrs. Grey; 81 have seen
better days"
There was ineXpressible pathos and
sadness 10 her voice as she spoke. 1t
touched the kindly heart OF the young
girl.
You must let me help you," she
said impulsively. II will bring you
books and tlowers, since you love them,
and fruit. Ii will be such a pleasure
to me To help YOU" sue aid ri.
Why should the beautiful worn face
grow pale again, anu tue wonderful
eyes hi vita tears! Why should the
thin hands tremble? The duchess went
on:
"The duke mo husband. has very
peculiar ideas. lie thin>s that we are
responsible in some degree for every
one living on our property. he says
that a great land owner should be like
father OF his people. He SAYS that we
should take care of the sick and the
poor-that we should educate the
children-that we should comfort
the sorrowful, and do our best TO help
every one. $50" she added with a
beautiful, kindly smile, "if you are sad
or sorrowful, you have an especial
claim OF me-
Heaven bless her, II she had but
known what that special claim was.
~ have brought you some flowers
and some fruit to-day" she said. ~
will bring some books next time, and
will come soon."
To those longing, wistful eyes the
very glory of the sunlight seemed TO
go out with her: and when she had
gone-when the pretty carriage disap-
peared behind the trees--Mrs. Grey
fell on her knees, ami kissed IN Q ground
on which the young duchess had stood